Zombies in Stepford

The Stepford Wives

Director: Frank Oz

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, Jon Lovitz

Cert: 15.

Since the original version of Ira Levin’s off-beat novel, made in l975, was a dull, rather plodding affair one wonders who thought it worthy of a re-make?

OK, so this version has a sterling cast, but none of them looks at ease in a sort-of sci-fi drama set in the small Connecticut town of Stepford where the men have somehow turned their wives in zombies with perfect hair-dos, brilliant cooking skills, fine dress sense, skillfully applied make-up and lots of loving lust.

Into this disturbing scene of married and sexual perfection comes TV network head Kidman; and she finds things not quite what they seem.

The original was played for its horror elements but here Oz - a man who must know all about perfidious females since he is the man with his arm up the dress of Miss Piggy - can’t really decide if he wants the film to be a comedy.

Ultimately, of course, it is a film which manages to be nothing and the cast - mainly Kidman - are left in a limbo.

There were, apparently, on-set differences between several members of the cast and Kidman was said to want out of the film.

Nothing is ever perfect!

Star Rating: 2/5